Tidings St. Thomas Episcopal Church 315 Lindsey Street Reidsville, NC 27320 336-349-3511 www.stomasreidsville.org April 2009 The Vestry Clark Turner Senior Warden 349-7972 candsturner@yahoo.com Tom Ham Junior Warden 932-2212 tjhamiii@nuvox.net Phillip Dalton Membership / Parish Life phillipesi@triad.rr.com 613-9695 Bill Horsley Outreach 342-2869 susyandbill@bellsou.net John Pugh Treasurer 656-4664 Dot Shelton Vestry Clerk 342-2433 irishbr@aol.com Elizabe Treadwell Spiritual Grow / Christian Ed. 336-623-1057 bookar@earlink.net Freda Watt Worship 342-2305 fwatt@bellsou.net Polly Yeago Membership / Parish Life 643-7708 payeago@bellsou.net Open Vestry Meetings are every ird Monday at 6:30 p.m. Dear Friends We are about to embark upon e holiest week of e Christian year. We again share e journey from Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem, rough e last supper, Jesus trial, crucifixion and burial to his glorious resurrection. These events are at e core of our fai and it is our privilege to gaer togeer to remember em. There are several worship opportunities during is Holy Week. We begin wi Palm Sunday, wi services at 8:30 and 11. We will begin e 11am service in e yard and process wi our palms into e church. At noon each day of e week, e Reidsville Christian community will gaer for worship and a light lunch. There s a schedule of ose events later on in is issue of Tidings. I am e speaker at e Upcoming Diocesan Events-p. 7 From e Rector s Desk Maundy Thursday service at noon at Elm Grove Church. On Maundy Thursday evening we will gaer at 7:30pm to commemorate e last supper, strip e altar and begin our vigil wi Christ in e Garden. You are invited to sign up for a prayer time between 9pm on Thursday and 12noon on Good Friday. Our hope is at ere will be someone from St. Thomas keeping vigil wi Jesus roughout e night. While you are asked to pray wherever you like, e church will be open at 8am for ose who wish to come here. At noon on Good Friday we will share in e community Stations of e Cross at begin at Main Street Meodist Church. Those who are not able to walk e stations are invited to join in e Stations at will be offered in St. Thomas parish hall. At 1:30 Continued on page 2 Inside This Issue... > Holy Week, Palm Sunday, Easter & Community Services > Just Anoer Passion Story - Don Gwarek > Vestry Highlights - Dot Shelton > Episcopal Day School > Stephen Ministry / Christian Education / Fill e Tub > Deacon Paul s Corner / Easter Lily / Men s Club / Stitches > Pancake Supper & ECW Stew Sale - More pictures! > Outreach Commission / Notes from Ed / 2009 Directory > Thoughts on Stewardship / ECW / New Arrival / In Memory > Pledge Report / Parish Register / Who s Who 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11
From e Rector s Desk Continued from page 1 you are invited to join me at St. Thomas for e liturgy of Good Friday and e church will remain open until 3pm for prayer and vigil. On Easter Day we will celebrate Christ s glorious resurrection wi services at 8:30 and 11. It is tempting for us to go from Jesus triumphant entry on Palm Sunday straight to Easter Day but I invite you to walk e whole journey wi our Lord, remembering his gift of e Eucharist, his prayer in e garden and e dep of his sacrifice in e crucifixion. As we walk wi him rough Holy Week, our fai is deepened and our joy at e resurrection even more profound. Yours in Christ, Vicki + Notes from Vicki I will be having foot surgery on April 15 and will be out of e office for e best part of four weeks. The Rev. Jim Maieson will be our guest preacher and celebrant on April 19 and 26 and he will also be available to cover for emergencies. If you need to reach him please contact eier Clark Turner, Senior Warden (349-7972) or Tom Ham, Junior Warden (349-7261) and ey will contact him for you. I am hoping to return to work at least a little for Sunday May 3 and e following weeks and will stay in touch by email and phone. Discussion of Prayer Does It Make Any Difference will continue on Tuesday, April 21 at 7pm. Tom Thorn will lead e discussion. Vestry will meet on Monday, April 20 at 6:30 pm. The worship committee meeting is rescheduled from Sunday, April 19 to Sunday, May 17. Please bring your reflections on Lent, Holy Week and Easter and we will plan for e summer. St. Thomas Holy Week Schedule: Palm Sunday, April 5: Liturgy of e Palms and Holy Eucharist: 8:30am and 11am. Wednesday of Holy Week (April 8) Holy Eucharist and Healing service 12 noon in e chapel. Holy Week Maundy Thursday, April 9: Liturgy of e Day and Holy Eucharist, 7:30 pm in e church. Maundy Thursday, April 9 rough noon on Good Friday, April 10: Vigil before e Cross. You are invited to sign up to commit to pray (in half hour segments) and keep vigil wi our Lord in e Garden. You may pray wherever you choose (so at you can stay at home during e night). The church will be open from 8am on Friday if you wish to come ere. The sign up sheet will be at e church on Palm Sunday. Please join in keeping vigil wi our Lord. Good Friday, April 10: 12 noon, Community Stations of e Cross; Stations of e Cross will also be offered in St. Thomas parish hall for ose unable to join in walking e community Stations. 1:30pm: Good Friday Liturgy. Easter Day, April 12: Festive Holy Eucharist, 8:30 am and 11 am in e Church. Community Holy Week Services Each service begins at 12:00 noon and is followed by a light luncheon. Monday Jerusalem United Holy Church Speaker: The Rev. Shannon Newsome Tuesday First Congregational Christian Church Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Clarence Johnson Wednesday Woodmont United Meodist Church Speaker: The Rev. Rosetta Badgett Thursday Elm Grove Baptist Church Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Vicki Smi Friday Stations of e Cross indoors in St. Thomas Parish house and Stations of e Cross beginning at Main Street United Meodist Church and ending at First Baptist Church, Main Street. The luncheon will take place in e fellowship hall of First Baptist Church. 2 www.stthomasreidsville.org
Even ough it was early morning, a large crowd had gaered to watch e public trial. The young man on trial was familiar to most of e people in Jerusalem. He was a Nazarene called Yeshu, a popular teacher and healer who had attracted a large following in just a few short years. Among e onlookers was Yeshus moer. She wept bitterly. It was hard to see her son humiliated like is. There were oers who wept as well, but several of e agitators, paid by e Sanhedrin, shouted, blasphemer. He claims to be e son of God. Punish him. But anoer shouted back, he makes more sense an your Pharisees. Then he mumbled to a nearby man, He s probably made a lot of enemies in e Sanhedrin. I hear ey were responsible for having him arrested in e garden just is morning. And amid all shouting and chaos, e young man stood quietly before e Roman Governor, Pilate, head bowed, hands folded in front of him. The soldiers had put one of eir cloaks on him and when ey pulled it away ere was a collective gasp from e crowd. The young man s back was covered in bloody open wounds and more blood streamed down his face. His moer, Miriam, screamed in shock. Someone close by pointed and said, look, ey have taken a ring of orns and driven em into his head. He shook his head. He s a good man. He don t deserve is. Pilate was pacing, rubbing his chin, seemingly unable to make a decision. Finally he put his hands in a nearby bowl of water and turned to e crowd. I wash my hands of is matter. This man is not guilty of any Roman crime. Just Anoer Passion Story by Don Gwarek Some of e agitators shook eir fists in e air and shouted, he is a blasphemer. He should be punished. Pilate sensed e crowd getting unruly. He needed to appease em. What would you have me do wi is man, he asked? Crucify him, e agitators shouted. Crucify him. Pilate ought for a moment en looking at his soldiers, nodded. He watched as e soldiers roughly shoved Yeshu toward e door and en said, wait. He faced e crowd, hand held high for quiet. Today I can set a prisoner of your choosing free. You can have is man called Yeshu or e ief Barabas. Who do you choose. The agitators were joined by more of eir kind. Barabas, ey shouted, give us Barabas. Pilate sighed. He nodded once again to e soldiers. Take him away, he said softly. Outside e soldiers led Yeshu to a heavy log, called a patibulum. Pick it up, Jew, e first soldier snarled. Yeshu obediently bent down and lifted e heavy piece of wood to his shoulder, his legs unsteady as he took his first steps. He ll never make it all e way past e city gate to e hill wi at load, e second soldier said to his companion. I ll bet you he bleeds out before we get ere. And so e long ordeal began. Yeshu carried e heavy log rough e streets of Jerusalem, past crowds of weeping men and women. But soon e weight of e patibulum combined wi e loss of blood was too much for him and he fell. One of e soldiers hit him wi e butt end of his spear, cursing him. Yeshu managed to get to his knees en to his feet and walked slowly carrying e heavy burden once again. Blood streamed down his face from e crown of orns at was pushed into his head. It ran into his eyes, blinding him. A woman standing nearby rushed out wi a towel and wiped his face and received a smile of anks in return. Yeshu s legs became more unsteady and he fell e second and e ird time. He can t make it any furer, one soldier said. We better get someone to carry is ing for him or e Jew will die right here. Let s see if we can t find someone big enough to haul it to e hill. As luck would have it, nearby stood a traveler from Cyrene, named Simon. And so it was at wi e help of a stranger, Yeshu, exhausted and bloodied from a scourging and a ring of sharp orns pushed into his head, finally arrived at e hill called Gulguta. And yet e worst was yet to come. As his moer watched, e soldiers rew Yeshu on e ground and stretched his arms out on e patibulum, en drove a crude, seven inch, iron spike rough each wrist. When is was done ey lifted e heavy log wi Yeshu hanging from it and mounted it on an upright pole at had already been used for previous executions. The soldiers roughly lifted Yeshu s legs just slightly so at his knees were partially bent. Then ey turned his feet to one side and after driving anoer large nail rough a board, drove at same nail rough bo ankles. But even wi all is pain and suffering he said, Faer, forgive em for ey know not what ey do. And yes he died on at terrible cross and yes he was buried. But wait. Three days later, when some women came to anoint e body, he was not ere. He was gone. At first ere were just whispers He is risen. But e whispers became louder and louder until e words were shouted all over e world again and again HE IS RISEN HE IS RISEN!!! Alleluia. www.stthomasreidsville.org 3
Vestry Highlights - Dot Shelton, Vestry Clerk Meeting date: March 16, 2009 Freda Watt opened e meeting wi e reading Take Noing for Your Journey from Meditations for Vestry Members. Treasurer s Report John Pugh gave e Financial Report for February. Total operating expenses for February was $12,145.21. The Finance Committee recommended moving $25,000 from e checking account into a higher interest bearing account since we only need $12,000 per mon to cover operating expenses. After some discussion e vestry gave e Finance committee and treasurer e approval for is transaction. The vestry appointed John Pugh, Chuck Rhodes, Bill Sutton, Bob Lee Watt and Melody Watt to e 2009 Audit Committee. Rector s Report Holy Week The sanctuary at St. Thomas will be open each day from 8 AM 3 PM. There will be five Wednesday evening programs during Lent. A Lenten supper will begin at 6 PM followed by a program wi discussions on e 10 Commandments and closing wi Compline. Everying should be over by 7:30 PM. The Sunday Adult Education class will discuss e 7 last words Jesus spoke. Episcopal Day School Again is year e Vestry has approved e EDS summertime Kid s Moring Out program. This ½ day program will operate Tuesday and Thursday of each week for 8 weeks for e purpose of giving e parents some time to emselves during e summer and e time for kids to get away from eir parents. Hopefully, new children would be introduced to is program at would carry over to enrollment for e following school years. Kid s Morning Out will be less structured an e usual preschool day. The program will provide games, music, snacks, crafts and oer organized activities wi more free play and outside time. There are possible field trips for 3 and 4-year olds. The instructors will be Jeanette Eure, Edie Stadler and a new 2-year old teacher to be hired. There will be openings for up to 6 students age 2 and up to 15 students ages 3, 4 & 5. The program will start June 3 rough July 31 wi e exception of e week of June 21. The cost is $150 for ose who register for e entire summer or $15 per session for ose doing drop-off wiout commitment of all 16 sessions. Vicki is having foot surgery April 15. The Rev Jim Maieson will be e supply priest during Vick s absence. Junior Warden s Report Tom Ham Hand Dryers - One has been purchased and will be installed. It is our goal to put hand dryers in all barooms. Handicap Parking Ordered sign. Sanctuary Roof NOTE: During e February vestry meeting Ham noted e sanctuary roof will eier need to be coated or replaced before e end of e year. He was asked to get updated bids from Dyers and report back to e vestry. $46,000 - To replace e sanctuary roof wi metal (Dyers) (Note- The metal roof has to be recoated every 3 years. $15,000 50-year architectural shingles (Skywalker) $13,000 30-year architectural shingles (Skywalker) (Note These estimates do not include repairing any roof damages found after removing e existing roof. We are sure ere will be some due to e water leaks.) Commission Reports Membership/Parish Life/Parish Programs Freda Watt, Phillip Dalton, Polly Yeago May 17 - Sunday School Picnic on e Lawn There will be a hot dog, chips and dessert lunch on e lawn after e 11 AM service. We will have a band wi singer for e entertainment. Our goal is to encourage people who walk by e see e fun we have. Lemonade-on-e-Lawn Lemonade and cookies will be served after e 11 AM services from June 6 until September 27. A sign up list will be available in May. If you would like to volunteer please contact Freda Watt. 4 of July Picnic This has been planned to coincide wi e you leaving for eir Mission Trip. on July 5 We will continue e tradition of hot dogs on e side lawn. Plans are to have a band for is event. Outreach Bill Horsley We received ank you notes from Help, Inc. and e families St. Thomas helped during Christmas. Spirituality & Christian Ed. Elizabe Treadwell Elizabe has volunteered to repair e binding on our hymnals and prayer books is summer. Jim McCloskey reports plans are being made for Vacation Bible School. Our Sunday School attendance is good wi 6 to 9 children per week. Jim plans an outdoor lesson and garden day sometime in April or May. The next meeting of e Christian Education Committee will be after e 11 AM service April 5. 4 www.stthomasreidsville.org
Episcopal Day School Preschool Happy Easter from all of us at EDS! It is hard to believe it s spring already. This school year has flown by. We only have about 2 mons of school left! Since our last newsletter, we have continued rough e alphabet wi letters Tt, Uu, and Vv. Our color of e mon is blue and e shape of e mon is oval. We also talked about St. Patrick s Day and e changing of e season from winter to spring. At press time, we are continuing to practice hard on our program, Three Nanny Goats Gruff Opera at will be presented on March 19. We re expecting a good turn out to see our production. We ll have a BBQ dinner following and will have our drawing for raffle prizes at night, as well. Thanks to all who helped support is fund raiser by buying raffle tickets! We now have our sign up sheet available for ose of you at would be willing to come and read a story to our class. The sign up sheet is available in e doorway at e back of e sanctuary. We hope many of you will be able to come. Readers are welcome to bring eir own book or we have plenty available in e classroom for you to use. If a time posted does not work for you, please call us at 349-3511 x106 and we will work someing out. Kids Morning Out - KMO is a ½ day summer program for e purpose of giving caregivers some time to emselves during e summer and a time for kids to socialize wi children eir own age. Kids Morning Out will operate on Wednesday and Thursday of each week for e mons of June & July 2009 (excluding week of June 21) for children ages 2-5 (Five year olds must not have attended kindergarten). KMO will include activities such as games, songs, free play, snacks and crafts. Hours: Prices: 8:30-9:00 a.m. - Drop off $15 per single session - or- Noon - Pick up $150 when committing for bo June/July. For more information and/or a registration form, call 349-3511 or pick one up from e preschool or in e church office. We will be on Easter break beginning April 3rd. We will return to school on Tuesday, April 14. Have a great Easter! Episcopal Day School is currently accepting applications for an Assistant Teacher for e 2 year old class. Please call e preschool for more information. Ms. Jeanette Ms. Stephanie Ms. Edie www.stthomasreidsville.org 5
Stephen Ministry A Stephen Minister can be ere for someone who's in e midst of a life challenge so ey don't have to walk rough e valley alone. An article written in 2006 by Jessica Fischer, in e Kingsport Times News, hit e nail on e head about e purpose of e Stephen Ministries. She said, Just call Stephen Ministers e after people. After you find e pink slip in what's now your final paycheck, after e doctors have said ere's noing more ey can do, after e relationship ends but e wounds are still bleeding, after family and friends have heard your story one too many times but you still need to talk it out--at's when e Stephen Ministers step in. You may not be someone who is facing a life challenge at is time, but maybe you know of someone who is. Let em know about us. The Stephen Ministry is a non-denominational ministry and we would be glad to help anyone who needs to talk. When you re ready to talk, a Stephen Minister is ready to listen. Fill The Tub Outreach Please help us reach out to oers in our community by donating non-perishable items for e Reidsville Outreach Center. Items needed for April are: Canned meat Canned fruit Boost or Ensure Toiletry items such as Deodorant and Shampoo The tub is located in e narex of e church. Thank you for your help wi is vital ministry! This mon I ought I d stroll down memory lane and post some old photos. The first is from VBS in June 2003. The eme at year was called Scuba and all of e activities and lessons related in some way to water. In e photo called Fishing you ll notice Daniel Yount on e left, James Guinn-Rose and Dillon Gourley on e right. In e background, McKinley Gourley is on e left, en Dot Reilly (yeah!), James Guinn-Rose s broer, whose first name I can t remember, Sam Thorn (holding e big bat) and Mrs. Gillette. The next photo is a beautiful portrait from Sept. 2004. In front is Reilly Hall. Seated starting from e left is McKenna Hall, Adam Craddock, Brooke and Sydney Melchert, Dillon and McKinley Gourley, Daniel Yount, Sam and Helen Thorn, and Rachel Craddock. Next is e Godly Play photo taken in Feb. 2006. Starting wi Scotty Froehock on e left is Brooklyn Grainer, Daniel, McKinley, Sam, Helen, Adam and Rachel. Also from Feb. 2006 is a photo of e EDS singing presentation during a service. See how many youngsters you can identify! I ve got e whole performance on video if anyone s interested. The last photo is a gem. It shows Bill Oldland on guitar, Ellen holding Daniel, Jean Horsley, Linda Avery, Carson and Cole Bennett, Elizabe Gillette, Sam and a totally mesmerized Helen Thorn. Big news! Sam Thorn is now an Acolyte! His first service was about 2 weeks ago. Congratulations to Sam and his faer Tommy. Finally, a couple of notes. May 17 is a big end-of-e-school-year picnic for EDS and CE. We re having inflatable jumping around entertainment. Philip Dalton is heading is up. Lastly, our important Christian Ed meeting is April 5. We have lots to talk about and plan for. Hopefully by next mon we ll have a big announcement for e church. Peace to you all in is Lenten season, Christian Education Jim McCloskey Sunday School Superintendent Photos courtesy of Jim McCloskey 6 www.stthomasreidsville.org
Dear St. Thomas Church Family: It has been one mon since I came and I am honored to be your deacon. I have enjoyed meeting many of you and look forward to meeting more as time moves on. My job, as Deacon, is to work in e community - but is is not someing I can do alone. I ink of St. Paul who was called on e faifulness of believers in Rome, Corin, Thessalonica and elsewhere to be in work wi him, supporting him wi prayer, finances, and fellowship in e spirit. I, too, need at same support from my St. Thomas community. Each Sunday, as I issue e call to go for in e name of Christ, is is e beginning of our journey into community. I am so very happy to be here wi you and want you to know at anying we do togeer strengens e community of fai. Deacon Paul s Corner Bro. Paul If you are interested in placing a Lily in e sanctuary for Easter, please contact e church office at 349-3511 or fill in e information below and place in e offering plate. The cost is $9.00 each and ey may be placed in. memory or honor of someone. # Lilies ($9.00 each) Easter Lily Order Deadline to order - 4/6/09 Given for (please check one) Memory Honor The Rev. Paul Valdes, Deacon Given By Phone Number Men s Club The Men s Club will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday April 2 in e Parish House. Chefs for is mon s meeting will be Bernie Melchert and John Pugh. Thanks in advance to Carson Dawson and Ken Avery for taking care of e Sunday morning Coffee Hour during e mon of April. Stitches of Love We will meet in e Library until e quilt is finished. We will continue to meet on e 4 Tuesday of each mon at 7 pm. We will also meet on Thursdays from 9:30 noon. Please feel free to join us to eier quilt, knit, or crochet. You might want to check wi e church office to make sure we are quilting on Thursdays or call Susan Dalton, Elizabe Pugh, or Parker Graham. NC Diocese: Upcoming May 6 Altar Guild Festival Flowers Rarest, Blossoms Fairest: The Altar Through e Liturgical Year Haw River State Park www.ecw-nc.org May 15 & 16 The Magnetic Church hosted by St. Mary s - High Point www.stmarysepisc.org May 16 Gaering of e women of e Greensboro Convocation St. Christopher s - High Point www.ecw-nc.org May 26-29 Small Church Leadership Conference Trinity Conference Center Pine Knoll Shores, NC www.epis-sclc.org www.stthomasreidsville.org 7
Pancake Supper & ECW Stew Sale - More pictures! Photos courtesy of Tom Ham & Parker Graham 8 www.stthomasreidsville.org
Outreach Commission - March 2009 Musical notes from At e March 22, 2009 meeting of e Outreach Commission planning for e annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner began. The Commission decided at various elements of e dinner needed additional attention in e form of a coordinator. This is especially true wi respect to e number of volunteers we had last year. It was felt at it is important at all volunteers be used in some manner. The Commission also began discussion about e annual project in which St. Thomas adopts several families. St. Thomas responded well to e recent fire at wiped out a local family. Rev. Paul Valdes, our Deacon, suggested we look into a furniture ministry. There is already one set up in Greensboro. The purpose of is ministry is to collect used furniture and store it for use in cases such as e one mentioned above. Because of concerns about availability and cost of storage space, Paul agreed to investigate e possibility of a partnership wi e Greensboro program. The Commission made a $250 contribution toward e cost of Heaer Gentle participating in a dental mission trip to Guatemala is summer. We made a $100 contribution to e Second Harvest Food Bank in Winston-Salem. The Outreach Center in Reidsville gets food from Second Harvest. Each $1 contribution results in $12 wor of food being given to ose in need. Tom Ham will obtain additional contribution forms to be placed in Sunday bulletins so members of St. Thomas can make individual contributions to is very wory cause. Subject to Vestry approval, e Parish House will be open one afternoon a week (probably Wednesday) for people wiout air conditioning to come in and cool off. We will need at least two parishioners each week to volunteer to be present from 2 pm to 5 pm each Wednesday for is program. We will also need donations of ings such as board games, paperback books, and magazines. 2009 Directory Information Needed A new church directory will be run and distributed in June, 2009. If ere have been changes in your address, phone number, or email address since e last printing of e church directory (Spring 2007) please contact e church office. Also, please let us know if you have added or lost family members (bir, dea, e kids have grown up and are now living on eir own, etc.). Jenny, e parish secretary, can be reached at 349-3511 ext. 101 at e following times: Monday ru Thursday 9:00 am 1:00 pm, Friday 9:00 am 12:00 pm Or you can send e information to: office@stomasreidsville.org Thank you for your help! What we can do is often very little, but we have to do at little. It is not so much spectacular actions at change e world, but raer persevering day by day in human goodness. - Broer Alois, Prior of e Taizé Community Ed Turning e Corner When I was in my 20 s and early 30 s, I enjoyed running in local 5,000-meter races. There was e excitement of e beginning of e race, e settling in to a consistent rd pace, e drudgery of e 3 and 4 kilometer, when I had to just keep putting one foot in front of e oer, and finally e last curve or turn, when I got a glimpse of e finish line and en steadily focused on it, my spirit lifted wi each step, until I crossed e finish line wi a smile on my face. Many of us are going rough tough times. Family members are ill. Finances are tight. The news we hear and see is often bad, wi new accounts of violence or some newly discovered corruption which eats away at our society. From Washington we hear encouragement to be persistent in working on our problems. In e schools I see signs encouraging students to persevere...never give up, keep trying. I am reminded also of Scriptural advice to rejoice, even in e midst of sufferings. Suffering produces endurance, we are told, and endurance produces character, and character brings wi it hope, and hope does not disappoint. How does all is work? How do we know at we will not be dashed to pieces on e rocks of despair? In e races, I knew my body, and could feel e surge of adrenalin and new capillaries opening up to give me renewed streng. In our families, we have new lives and e streng of love to get us rough illness and dea. In society, ere is good news as well as bad: many people are honest, and caring, and determined to work togeer for e best. I get e most hope from e reason given in Scripture: God s love has flooded our inmost heart rough e Holy Spirit he has given us. (Rom. 5:5b, NEB) This is what keeps me going...e assurance at God s love is stronger an evil, and sorrow, and dea. That s what gets us rough Holy Week: knowing Easter is just around e corner. Hang in ere. I believe God will give you renewed streng for your struggles, and e victory will be sweeter for e ordeal of getting ere. Thank you for all you are to me. Ed Spencer www.stthomasreidsville.org 9
ECW Thoughts on Stewardship Don t forget e ECW Board Meeting on Tuesday, April 14 at 1 o clock in e Vestry Room. Please plan to attend e ECW General Meeting following e 11 o clock service on Sunday e 19. At e General Meeting we hope to have a final accounting for e stew and news from e cookbook committee. A light lunch will be provided on e 19. Bill Stockdale It is wi sadness at e St. Thomas community learned of e dea of Bill Stockdale. Bill was an active leader in our church and in Rockingham County. He had much to do wi Shiloh Airport being built in Stoneville and managed at facility for a number of years. At St. Thomas, Bill was a former vestry member and Sr. Warden. In later years, Bill and his wife Jean relocated to Greensboro where ey attended Holy Trinity. After he moved, he frequently came back from time to time to Pancake Suppers, ECW Bazaars, and Shrimp Fests. He always had a big smile, an easy laugh, and a good joke to make any moment a fun one. The last time I saw Bill, I mentioned how good it was to see him again and we caught up on each oers news. As we parted Bill said You know, St. Thomas always has been home to me. Submitted by Tom Balsley Today, it seems like more an ever, e daily dose of news we are getting is pretty depressing. I try to be positive but when I ink about people I know at have lost jobs, are unable to make house payments, or are seriously ill, it is quite difficult to be in an up-beat frame of mind. A few weeks ago in adult Sunday School, we were discussing our intentions for Lent. Our rector, Vickie, suggested at we might give up adverse oughts such as fear, anxiety, or worry a way of inking at keeps us from being e kind of person at can enjoy e fullness of life. When I ink of practical ways in which we can live our lives today as Jesus lived his, first on my list would be having a more grateful heart. Prayers of gratitude can be life changing. They make me feel at God is good, God New Arrival! Adam and Meredi Wilson, Jacksonville, NC announce e bir of a daughter Danica Kaelynn Wilson born January 28, 2009 weighing in at 9 lbs 10 oz. Grandparents are Ernie Wilson of Reidsville, Ginny and Michael Nester of King, NC, proud aunt Victoria Campbell and uncle Spencer Wilson Michael and Ginny (Campbell) Nester gin@windstream.net loves me, and God loves everyone else. I am not saying at by having a grateful heart we lessen e pain around us. Jesus was truly compassionate when people were hurting. Alough we don t ank God for suffering, our prayers of intercession show our ought and concern for oers. We can recognize at compassion is a gift from God and for is, we give anks. While ere is a place for intercession, we need to spend more time expressing our gratefulness for e countless gifts at are ours. In e midst of all our trials, we can develop a more ankful heart by recognizing at all of life is a gift and by acknowledging at God is moving wi care and love in e events of our everyday lives. In Memory Tom Balsley Please pray for e repose of e souls of Walter Rhodes faer of Chuck Rhodes, died 3/12/09 William A. Bill Stockdale died 3/21/09 May light perpetual shine upon em. 10 www.stthomasreidsville.org
Where Two or Three are Gaered Togeer... Parish Register Parish Register Please note at Richard & Joanne Piazza have gone completely wireless and at ey also have a new email address: DATE March 1 st 1 Sunday in Lent March 8 nd 2 Sunday in Lent SERVICE 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. ATTENDANCE 8 40 15 52 Joanne - 210-4079 Richard - 432-9272 Email: rjpiazza@hughes.net March 15 rd 3 Sunday in Lent March 22 4 Sunday in Lent 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. 14 53 19 56 Pledge Report February 2009 Year To Date March 29 5 Sunday in Lent 8:30 a.m. 11:00 a.m. * 41 Total Revenue $ 17,370.69 $ 27,051.69 Total Operations Expenses $ 12,145.21 $ 28,187.61 * Unavailable at press time Difference $ 5,225.48 - $ 1,135.92 Rector CHURCH STAFF: The Rev. Dr. Vicki L. Smi 349-3511, Ext. 102 Cell: 919-452-0543 rector@stomasreidsville.org Deacon - The Rev. Paul Valdes 349-3511 Organist & Choir Director Ed Spencer 349-3511, Ext. 104 music@stomasreidsville.org Office Manager & Rector s Secretary Jenny Wilkins 349-3511, Ext. 101 office@stomasreidsville.org Who s Who Acolyte Coordinator You Leader Elisabe Pugh 656-4664 eyc@stomasreidsville.org Altar Guild Suzanne Howard 349-7046 Layreader & Chalice Bearer Coordinator Tom Ham 932-2212 tjhamiii@nuvox.net Usher & Greeters Coordinator Steve Wor 349-7538 LAY WORKERS: ECW Parker Graham 349-1882 pgraham1@triad.rr.com Men s Club Treasurer John Pugh 656-4664 Pledge Treasurer Steve Wor 349-7538 Nursery Coordinator Anne Rogers 342-0284 Sextons Carol Pruitt 349-3511 Joanne Piazza 349-3511 Episcopal Day School Administrator Christopher Wood (2008-2009) Librarian Susan Bullock 616-1029 hambones@netmcr.com Sunday School Superintendent Jim McCloskey 349-3354 jimmccloskey@adams-electric.com Webmaster John Bullock 349-9232 john@mygraphicdetails.com WANTED!!! INFORMATION - STORIES - PICTURES - IDEAS! Newsletter Deadline: e 20 of EVERY mon news@stomasreidsville.org OR Call e church office 349-3511
St. Thomas Episcopal Church 315 Lindsey Street Reidsville, NC 27320 Non-Profit Organization US Postage PAID Permit #19 Reidsville, NC Return Service Requested April 2009 Inside This Issue... > Holy Week, Palm Sunday, Easter & Community Services > Just Anoer Passion Story - Don Gwarek > Vestry Highlights - Dot Shelton > Episcopal Day School > Stephen Ministry / Christian Education / Fill e Tub > Deacon Paul s Corner / Easter Lily / Men s Club / Stitches > Pancake Supper & ECW Stew Sale - More pictures! > Outreach Commission / Notes from Ed / 2009 Directory > Thoughts on Stewardship / ECW / New Arrival / In Memory > Pledge Report / Parish Register / Who s Who 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 At St. Thomas Palm Sunday Liturgy of e Palms and Holy Eucharist 8:30am and 11am. Wednesday of Holy Week Holy Eucharist and Healing service 12 noon in e chapel. Maundy Thursday Liturgy of e Day and Holy Eucharist 7:30 pm in e church. Maundy Thursday rough noon on Good Friday Vigil before e Cross. Good Friday 12 noon Stations of e Cross in St. Thomas parish hall 1:30 pm - Good Friday Liturgy Easter Day Festive Holy Eucharist 8:30 am and 11 am Holy Week Services Community Services Each service begins at 12:00 noon and is followed by a light luncheon. Monday Jerusalem United Holy Church Speaker: The Rev. Shannon Newsome Tuesday First Congregational Christian Church Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Clarence Johnson Wednesday Woodmont United Meodist Church Speaker: The Rev. Rosetta Badgett Thursday Elm Grove Baptist Church Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Vicki Smi Friday Stations of e Cross beginning at Main Street United Meodist Church and ending at First Baptist Church, Main Street. The luncheon will take place in e fellowship hall of First Baptist Church.